Pop
psychology teaches us that guilt destroys and diminishes us. It
brings shame into our lives and we evaluate ourselves with that as
the template. But, we’re good, they tell us, and encourage us to
not allow anyone to tell us different.

Does
that match reality? Are we basically or fully good or fully bad? I
slip a lot, and the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I realize
those slips are truly sins—where I take God’s place in
determining how I want to live.

So,
guilt can be my friend when it comes to following Jesus. It lets me
know I’ve “slipped,” and need to take corrective action. You
see, I’ve found that sin and serving the Savior are paradoxical.
Both true, but opposite. I can’t fully do both. I do sin. I do
follow Jesus. But they pull me in opposite directions. I just read an
interesting quote—is any act good because God says so, or because
it reflects God’s essence? I lean to the latter. God is pure, and
if want to follow him, then we need to move that way. Guilt is like a
highway bump just off the side of the lane that tells us we’ve
drifted outside the safe lane.

So
I now rejoice in that pang of guilt—it tells me of a change I need,
that I perhaps haven’t been aware of before.

Now,
for all of us.

Has
guilt been destructive to you? Has it been constructive? Do you agree
with the concept that guilt is a marvelous gift from God that allows
us to identify new areas that we can grow in? How has that worked in
your life?

A bit of an unreconstructed Jesus freak. Almost old enough to have known him when he walked this world. About 27 on the inside. Investing his life in university and teen students. Inveterate cross country motorcycle rider. Nature lover. Entranced with the power of written and spoken words. Still learning.